Pressurizing apparatus



March 6, 1962 Filed May 28, 1959 A. J. BENEVENTO PRESSURIZING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 M l k/ r i i l i l l 2/ I 1 I 1 INVENTOR.

ALBERTJ. BE/VEVENTO March 6, 1962 A. J. BENEVENTO PRESSURIZING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1959 v INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. BE/VEVENTO aired The invention relates in general to pressurizing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for introducing a gas under pressure into a chamber.

An object of the invention is to provide a fitting assembly for introducing a pressurized gas into a closed chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for pressurizing a chamber without the necessity of utilizing a standard hand pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fitting for use with a pressurized gas bottle which may be attached thereto to pressurize a chamber by rupturing a frangible closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for pressurizing the fuel in a device such as a gasoline lantern or stove.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for pressurizing a chamber with all of the gas from a pressurized gas bottle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for pressurizing a chamber with only a predetermined quantity of gas from a comparatively large pressurized gas bottle or source.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a gasoline lantern embodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of a fitting member constructed under the teachings of the present invention and attachable to the device in FIGURE 1 for receiving the end portion of a pressurized gas bottle;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the components shown in FIGURE 2 in their assembled condition;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the pressurized gas bottle removed and with a cover in place on the fitting member;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view partially in section of an auxiliary fitting usable with the primary fitting shown in FIGURES 1-4;

FIGURE 6 is a view of the auxiliary fitting with the components thereof in their assembled condition; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the auxiliary fitting as utilized in combination with the primary fitting, and a pressurized fluid source.

The teachings of the present invention have been incorporated into a gasoline lantern, one of the common types being the Coleman lantern. The lantern shown in FIGURE 1 has been designated generally by the reference numeral 20 and includes a transparent enclosure 21 housing mantles 23 which receive their fuel supply from a gasoline tank or chamber 24 by way of conduits 25. The lantern is transported by the usual handle 26. The conventional hand pump 28 has been shown as associated with the chamber 24 as has been the primary fitting 30 of the present invention. The purpose of showing both devices in the instant embodiment is for comparing the same. Associated with the primary fitting 30 is a container or pressurized bottle of gas 31. Referring to FIG- URES 2, 3 and 4, the primary fitting 30 includes a body or fitting member 33 which has first and second end portions 34 and 35, respectively. Wall means 37 define an opening which extends completely through the body member 33 and this wall means defines an annular shoulder 38 which is located intermediate the end portions of tates tent ice the opening. This shoulder also serves as an annular valve seat. First female threads 40 are provided in the first end portion of the body member 33 and a first annular seal 41 engages the annular shoulder 38 on the first end portion side of the opening. A piercing member 43 is provided which includes a body portion 44 having a piercing end 45 at one end portion thereof and a transverse valve member 46 at the other end portion thereof. The body portion 44 of the piercing member slidably resides in and engages the wall means which defines the annular shoulder and the piercing end resides in the opening on the first end portion side of the annular shoulder and the transverse valve member resides in the opening on the second end portion side of the annular shoulder. An O-ring 48 or sealing member surrounds the body por tion of the piercing member and is located between the transverse valve member 46 and the annular shoulder on the second end portion side thereof. Wall means 50 define a passage from the piercing end 45 of the piercing member into the body portion 44 and the passage exits the body portion at a place which is short of the transverse valve member 46. Second female threads 52 are provided in the opening 37 at the second end portion of the body member. A plug or retaining plug member 53 having male threads 54 is threadably attached to the second female threads 52 which secures the plug member in place in the second end of the opening 37. The plug member 53 has a recessed end portion 56 and a spring 57 extends between the recessed end portion and the transverse valve member 46. It will be seen that the spring 57 at all times exerts a force against the piercing member tending to close the transverse valve member. The uppermost portion of the plug member serves as a stop to limit the travel of the piercing member in its direction which opens the transverse valve member. A plurality of notches 58 have been provided in the upper portion of the plug member to allow for the passage of gas when the piercing member is in engagement with the plug member. Wall means 60 are also provided in the plug member 53 and define a fluid passage therethrough. The plug member is also provided with a groove 61 in the head thereof to provide for the convenient reception of a screw driver or other tool.

A downturned flange or knurled skirt 63 extends from the first end portion of the body member 33 and as will be noted in FIGURES 2-4, extends about half the length of the body member. Threads 65 are provided in the downturned flange and serve to secure the fitting to a pipe or conduit 66 which forms a part of the gas tank or chamber 24. A second annular seal 68 is provided in a recess in the downturned flange at the end of the thread means and provides for a good seal between the fitting and the conduit 66.

The gas bottle or container 31 is provided with an end portion 70 and threads 71 are located on this end portion. A frangible closure 72 is located at and closes the end portion 70 of the bottle 31 and when ruptured provides for the exit of pressurized gas from the bottle. The bottle might for the sake of example contain gas such as carbon dioxide under a pressure of 500 to 1000 lbs. per square inch.

In operation, the primary fitting 30 forms a permanent part of the lantern 20 and normally is in the condition shown in FIGURE 4 with a dust cap or cover 74 threadably secured in place in the first female threads 40. Assume now that it is desired to operate the lantern and the pressure in the gas tank or chamber has been depleted. The cover 74 is removed and an unused gas bottle 31 containing gas under pressure therein is screwed into the primary fitting as shown in FIGURES l and 3. As the threads 71 on the end portion of gas bottle are screwed into the first female threads 40, the frangible closure 72 comes into engagement with the piercing end of the piercing member. This causes the piercing member to move downwardly in an axial direction to a second position from its first position where the transverse valve member 46 engages the plug member 53 which limits further movement of the piercing member andcauses the piercing end to pierce the frangible closure. When this occurs, the gas under pressure in the gas bottle 31 flows through the passageway means and into the gas tank or chamber 24. After the gas under pressure has exited the gas bottle 31, the bottle is unscrewed from the primary fitting and the gas pressure within the chamber 24 and the spring 57 serve to hold the transverse valve member closed to prevent the exiting of pressurized gas from the container through the primary fitting to the atmosphere.

In the event a small one-shot pressurized gas bottle such as 31 is not available and the only pressurized gas which is available is contained in a large container in a comparatively large quantity, then under the teachings of the present invention it is desirable to use an auxiliary or secondary fitting 76. This construction is also preferably utilized when a great number of chambers have to be pressurized. The auxiliary fitting 76 includes an annular body 78 which is provided with wall means 79 which define an opening extending therethrough. A lateral nozzle 80 is integrally connected to the body 78 and extends therefrom and is adapted to receive gas under pressure from an external source 81 which in the instant embodiment has been illustrated as a large tank. The lateral nozzle is provided with knurles 82 which serve to connect a hose 83 thereto. The other end of the hose extends to the gas source 81 and a valve 84 serves to selectively permit and prohibit gas flow from the source 81. Passageway means 85 are provided and extend through the lateral nozzle and connect with the wall means 79 which define the opening through the body. A turndown screw member 87 is positioned in the annular body opening and has a head portion 90 which engages one end of the annular body and has threads 91 on the other end thereof which extends from the other end portion of the annular body. Wall means 93 serve to define an axial opening which extends into the turndown screw from the threaded end 91 thereof and this opening communicates with the passageway means 85 of the nozzle. A positioning member 96 threadably engages the threads 91 on the turndown screw and also engages the end of the annular body opposite the head portion of the turndown screw and serves to axially position the screw. First and second O-rings 98 and 99 provide a fluid seal between the walls of the turndown screw and the walls of the opening through the annular body.

Threads 101 are provided in the axial opening 93 and a stop plug 102 is screwed into the threads 101 and this stop plug has an opening 103 extending therethrough. A valving member 105 is provided and a first end portion thereof is located in the opening in the turndown screw above the top 'plug whereas the second end portion of the valving member is located in the opening or passageway 103 of the stop plug. A seal member 107 is positioned between the first end portion of the valving member and the stop plug and wall means 108 define a pasage from the second 'end portion of the valving member which exits the valving member short of the first end portion thereof. A spring 110 serves to exert a force on the valving member 105 tending to normally close the same. The spring 110 is made of a stronger construction than the spring 57, and therefore holds the valving member on its seat with a stronger force than the spring 57 holds the transverse valve member 46 on its seat.

In operation to pressurize the gas tank or chamber 24 from the gas source 81, it is necessary that the primary fitting 30 be in place as shown in FIGURE 1. The secondary or auxiliary fitting '76 is attached to the hose or conduit 83 but is disconnected from the primary fitting.

The valve 84 is opened permitting gas under pressure to fill the hose 83 and the auxiliary fitting up to the valving member 105. After this volume has been filled with gas under pressure from the source 81, the valve 84 is closed again. The turndown screw member 87 is next screwed into the primary fitting 30 by means of the threads 91 on the turndown screw and the first female threads 40 in the primary fitting. As the second end portion of the valving member 105 engages the piercing end 45 of the piercing member 43, the valve member 46 is caused to open because the spring 57 is of a weaker construction than spring 110. When the valve member 46 abuts the plug member 53 the valving member 105 is forced off of its seat against the urging of spring 110. When this has been accomplished, the gas under pressure within the conduit 83 and in the auxiliary fitting is cause to flow into the gas tank or chamber 24 thereby pressurizing the same. When all of the gas has been transferred into the chamber 24, the turndown screw 87 is unscrewed from the primary fitting and the gas pressure in chamber 24 and the spring 57 serve to close the transverse valve 46 thereby preventing the loss of pressurized gas. The auxiliary fitting is then removed and replaced with the cap 24. The lantern or other device is then ready for use.

It will thus be seen that a pressurizing apparatus has been provided for quickly and efficiently introducing a pressurizing gas into a closed chamber. The apparatus which has been disclosed includes the use of a primary fitting in combination with a pressurized gas bottle with a frangible closure and another apparatus deals with the use of the primary fitting in combination with an auxiliary fitting to supply a pressurized gas from a large container. The means which has been disclosed and utilized herein does away with the necessity of pressurizing a chamber with a hand pump.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressurizing fitting including an annular body, wall means defining an opening through said annular body, a lateral nozzle integral with said annular body and extending therefrom, passageway means through said lateral nozzle communicating with said opening through said annular body, a turndown screw member positioned in said annular body opening, said turndown screw having a head portion engaging one end portion of said annular body and having threads extending from the other end portion of said annular body, wall means defining an axial opening extending into said turndown screw from said threaded end thereof, said axial opennozzle, a positioning member threadably engaging said threads on said turndown screw and engaging the other I end portion of said annular body to axially position said turndown screw, threads in said axial opening in said turndown screw, a stop plug screwed into said threads in said axial opening and having a passageway 'therethrough, a valve member having first and second end portions, a transverse valving member on said first end portion of said valve member and located in said opening in said turndown screw, said second end portion of said valve member located in said passageway of said stop plug, a seal member between said transverse valving member and said stop plug, and wall means defining a fluid passage from said second end portion of said valve member and exiting said valve member short of said transverse valving member.

2. Apparatus for pressurizing a chamber with a gas under pressure including in combination a body member having first and second end portions, wall means defining an opening extending through said body member, said wall means defining an annular shoulder in said opening between said first and second end portions, first female threads in said opening at said first end portion of said body member, a first annular seal member engaging said annular shoulder on said first end portion side of said opening, a piercing member including a body portion having a piercing end at one end portion thereof and having a transverse valve member at the other end portion thereof, said body portion slidably engaging said wall means which define said annular shoulder with said piercing end residing in said opening on said first end portion side of said annular shoulder and with said transverse valve member residing in said opening on said second end portion side of said annular shoulder, an O-ring surrounding said body portion of said piercing member and located between said transverse valve member and said annular shoulder, wall means defining a passage from said piercing end of said piercing member into said body portion and exiting said body portion short of said transverse valve member, second female threads in said opening at said second end portion of said body member, a plug member having male threads threadably engaging said second female threads, said plug memher having a recessed end portion, a spring extending between said recessed end portion of said plug member and said transverse valve member, wall means defining a fluid passage through said plug member, a downturned flange extending from said first end portion of said member, thread means on said flange for attaching said body member to the chamber to be pressurized, a second annular seal member in a recess in said flange, a fitting ineluding an annular body, wall means defining an opening through said annular body, a lateral nozzle integral with said annular body and extending therefrom and adapted to receive gas under pressure from an external source, passageway means through said lateral nozzle communicating with said opening through said annular body, a turndown screw member positioned in said annular body opening, said turndown screw having a head portion engaging one end portion of said annular body and having threads extending from the other end portion of said annular body, wall means defining an axial opening extending into said turndown screw from said threaded end thereof, said axial opening communicating with said passageway means of said nozzle, a positioning member threadably engaging said threads on said turndown screw and engaging the other end portion of said annular body to axially position said turndown screw, threads in said axial opening in said turndown screw, a stop plug screwed in said threads in said axial opening and having a passageway therethrough, a valving member having first and second end portions, said first end portion of said valving member located in said opening in said turndown screw, said second end portion of said valving member located in said passageway of said stop plug and adapted to engage said piercing member when said threads on said turndown screw are screwed into said first female threads of said body member, a seal member between said first end portion of said valving member and said stop plug, wall means defining a passage from said second end portion of said valving member and exiting said valving member short of said first end portion of said valving member.

3. Apparatus for pressurizing a chamber with a gas under pressure including in combination a body member having first and second end portions, wall means defining an opening extending through said body member, said wall means defining an annular shoulder in said opening between said first and second end portions, first female threads in said opening at said first end portion of said body member, a first annular seal member engaging said annular shoulder on said first end portion side thereof, a piercing member including a body portion having a piercing end at one end portion thereof and having a transverse valve member at the other end portion thereof, said body portion slidably residing in the opening in said annular shoulder with said piercing end residing in said opening on said first end portion side of said annular shoulder and with said transverse valve member residing in said opening on said second end portion side of said annular shoulder, an O-ring surrounding said body portion of said piercing member and located between said transverse valve member and said annular shoulder, wall means defining a fluid passage from said piercing end of said piercing member into said body portion and exiting said body portion short of said transverse valve member, second female threads in said opening at said second end portion of said body member, a plug member having male threads threadably engaging said second female threads, said plug member having a recessed end portion, a spring extending between said recessed end portion of said plug member and said transverse valve member, wall means defining a fluid passage through said plug member, a downturned flange extending from said first end portion of said body member, thread means on said flange, w-all means defining a recess in said flange, a second annular seal member in a recess in said flange at the end of said thread means, a fitting including an annular body, wall means defining an opening through said annular body, a lateral nozzle integral with said annular body and extending therefrom and adapted to receive gas under pressure, passageway means through said lateral nozzle communicating with said opening through said annular body, a turndown screw member positioned in said annular body opening, said turndown screw having a head portion engaging one end portion of said annular body and having first threads extending from the other end portion of said annular body, wall means defining an axial opening extending into said turndown screw from said threaded end thereof, said axial opening communicating with said passageway means of said nozzle, a positioning member threadably engaging said first threads on said turndown screw and engaging the other end portion of said annular body to axially position said turndown screw, second threads in said axial opening in said turndown screw, a stop plug screwed into said second threads in said axial opening and having a passageway there through, a valve member having first and second end portions, a valving member on said first end portion of said valve member and located in said opening in said turndown screw, said second end portion of said valve member located in said passageway of said stop plug and adapted to engage said piercing member when said first threads on said turndown screw are screwed into said first female threads of said body member, a seal member between said valving member and said stop plug, and wall means defining a fluid passage from said second end portion of said valve member and exiting said valve member short of said valving member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,066,066 Vidy July 1, 1913 1,676,777 Hansen July 10, 1928 2,222,247 Ward Nov. 19, 1940 2,548,957 Di Rosa Apr. 17, 1951 

